AUSTRALIA TOUR OF WEST INDIES, 2025
Brandon King scored his maiden Test fifty © AFP
Brandon King scored his maiden Test half-century and powered West Indies alongside some lower-order push from Alzarri Joseph and Shamar Joseph to get close to Australia’s first-innings total before folding. Jayden Seales then dismissed both Australia openers – Sam Konstas and Usman Khawaja – to leave the visitors in a precarious position at the close of play on Day 2.
West Indies were wobbly to start off with their riposte to Australia’s 286 as Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins took out Kraigg Brathwaite and Keacy Carty respectively with return catches off their bowling. On the other side of the drinks break in the morning session, Beau Webster then cut short John Campbell’s fluent innings to leave the hosts down to 64/3. King and his captain Roston Chase then picked up the pieces to form a 47-run alliance that took them past the 100-run mark. Hazlewood trapped Chase leg before to end the stand but King went on to forge another one, with Shai Hope. They put together 57 but Cummins and Nathan Lyon dismissed both in the space of an over to keep hopes up of securing a big first-innings lead.
That, however, was quashed by a lower-order fight from Alzarri and Shamar. The fast-bowling pair added 51 runs for the eighth wicket. Anderson Phillip and Seales then batted on for 74 balls between them before Australia bowled out the home side for 253 – only 33 runs behind Australia’s tally.
Seales then turned the screws on Australia by taking out both the openers – Konstas played a short and wide ball onto his stumps in the first over and Khawaja was trapped leg before by a back of length ball that jagged in. Australia ended the day on 12/2, with a lead of just 45 runs.
Brief Scores: Australia 286 (Alex Carey 63, Beau Webster 60; Alzarri Joseph 4-61) & 12/2 (Jayden Seales 2-5) lead West Indies 253 (Brandon King 75, John Campbell 40; Nathan Lyon 3-75, Josh Hazlewood 2-43) by 45 runs
© Cricbuzz
